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A young mum has spoken of her gratitude after the community rallied round to help her family rebuild their life following a “devastating” house fire.

Amy Milton, 33, and her three children lost all their possessions after a huge blaze destroyed their house on Westwood Street, Accrington last week.

With most of us taking sanctuary in our homes to self-isolate away from the coronavirus, Amy and children Stephan, 17, Demi-shay, 15, and Damian, 3, were facing being left with nowhere to go, but were quickly rehomed by a landlord friend.

Despite the challenges of lockdown, family, friends and the public have been helping them get back on their feet by donating items and giving to an online fundraiser for the family.

Amy Milton and son Damian, three, who were caught up in a fire on Westwood Street, Accrington

Amy, who is studying Psychology at Blackburn University, was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene of the fire at around 10.15pm on March 23.

She said: “We had the fire last Monday night. Everybody had been in bed, but my daughter smelt the smoke. It was an electrical fault.

“It’s been devastating, we were left with absolutely nothing. I just had a dressing gown on and the children were in their pyjamas.

“We are getting there slowly. It’s been such hard work, we have lost everything we own, all our furniture, our clothes, and our memories.”

Aftermath of fire on Westwood Street, Accrington on March 23, 2020

A Crowdfunding page was set up in the aftermath of the blaze in a bid to collect £300, and has now surpassed £350.

Amy said the family has been helped out greatly - especially by mum Yvonne Baron, sister Nicola and friends Sarah and Cathy.

The former Mount Carmel pupil added: “I’ve got kids so I’ve got to do what I can and get as much support as I can.

“We have been getting donations.

Aftermath of fire on Westwood Street, Accrington on March 23, 2020

“Everybody is trying to pull together to get me as much furniture as they possibly can. We ended up moving into another home on Tuesday.

“I can’t thank everybody enough for the help and support that they have given me. The amount of support from my sister has been amazing. There’s a lot of good out there.

“With the virus going around it’s been more difficult to get stuff to me. It’s come at the worst time possible. It’s never an ideal situation, but with all this on top of it it’s been devastating.”

Aftermath of fire on Westwood Street, Accrington on March 23, 2020

On the fundraising page, creator Jade Unellski said: “People of Hyndburn, I’m calling on all of you to come together now, in this time of crisis, to protect those in our communities.

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Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service said they arrived to find flames coming from the first floor and roof space of the property, and tackled the fire using breathing apparatus and a hose reel as well as the aerial ladder platform from above.